Fire-signal apparatus.



J. lVIcI. SMITH.

FIRE SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.3I. I9I3.

1,22428 Patented Apr. 24,1917.

JOHN IVIOINTOSH SMITH, OF ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

FIRE-SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24C, 1917.

Application led October r31, 1913. Serial No. 788,511.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN McIN'rosH SMITH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at St. John, in the Province of New Brunswick and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ire alarm apparatus.

In devising and perfecting the-invention with the objects hereinafter following in View, due regard has been given to the simplicity of the apparatus, the number and durability of the parts and the efliciency of the apparatus as a whole, so that the invention provides :L device that is highly efficient in operation and manufacturable at minimum cost.

The main objects of the invention are to provide means whereby the heat incidental to a iire will act in connection with a suitable element such as a quick acting .fuse to heat the element in order to ignite the same to in turn discharge means, such as a projectile discharged through explosion of fulminate to actuate detent means maintaining a signal or alarm inactive, for instance a continuously ringing bell alarm, in order that the detent means may be shifted to per- `mit actuation of the signal or alarm togive the fire alarm or re signal; and to provide apparatus of this kind having fuses or equivalent means distributed around the room or structure protected, in order that the fuse will become heated and will fuse practically simultaneously with the occurrence of a lire.

`With the foregoing objects, and other objects which are mostly minor in nature thereto and which will appear hereinafter as the description of the invention progresses, in view, the invention has been embodied in one form in the device hereinafter described and illustrated in accompanying drawings.

In said drawings Figure l is a horizontal sectional view through the apparatus,.showing the essential actuating parts in plan or top views;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the fuse and cap in connection with the support for the cap in horizontal section, and the detent member in connection therewith, in elevation.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts wherever they occur in the said views of the drawings.

The apparatus is designed so as to be compact in form, and neat in appearance in order to avoid unsightliness in a room or station where it may be located and to this end is mounted in a suitable casing. Such casing may be as shown in the drawings where it comprises a base plate or board section 1 having removably and detachably secured thereto as by means of suitable latches at 2, a cover section 3. The alarm or means actuated upon heating of the fuse 'referred to and to be later specifically referred to is mounted and located within this housing. This housing may be located in the wall of a building structure or located where preferable or desired.

Suitable fuse means which will fuse by the heat produced by a fire, is employed and as shown consists of a main fuse 4 which leads interiorly of the box and has connected thereto branch fuses 5 in turn having connected thereto branch fuses 6. The branch fuses are adapted to be distributed profusely throughout a structure to be protected against fire and the fuses 5 are shown to suggest ones adapted to lead to rooms of the structure and the fuses 6 are shown to suggest ones adapted to be fastened at walls, ceilings, ioors or objects within the rooms. It is to be understood however that the fuses may be distributed and located where preferable or desired. In order that the fuses when burning, will not ignite adjacent material, a covering of asbestos or similar material as shown at 7 in Fig. 3, is preferably provided. Said fuses are preferably quick acting.

The main fuse 4 which is of course ignited through the medium of the fuses 6 and 5, is adapted to ignite means which will discharge a projectile in order to shift detent means later to be specifically referred to. The projectile is designated 8 and may be in the form of la hollow cylinder of metal, closed at both ends with'the exception of an opening at 9. Into the opening 9 eX- tends loosely, one end of the fuse 5 which contact with fulminate 10 within the said cylindrical projectile 8.

Though not absolutely essential, it is preferable to provide means to support the projectile 8, such as the holder or sleeve 1l which has passing through its closed end,

the main fuse 4c and which has passing around the same between flanges 12 thereof, a clamp band member 13 fastened by screws or bolts at la to the base plate or section 1 of the housing.

Through the movement of the projectile 8 after firing, suitable alarm or signal means is actuated. lt is clear that the specific details of such means or mechanism is imma- V terial as far as the present invention is concerned. In addition however to describing a detent member or means upon actuation of which the alarm will be given or the signal will be given, a construction will be brieiiy described so that the operation of the device or apparatus can be fully comprehended.

, The detent means referred to is shown as a turnable arm having a portion 15 mounted in a bearing 16 supported from the base y movement ofthe angle arm 17 on the cam 19. It willfbe understood that after angle arm 17 rides past the cam 19, it will descend slightly, and the cam will prevent its backward or return movement to normal position. A second angle arm 22 extends from the arm 15 at right angles to the arm 17 and from said arm 22 extends inwardly at right angles a detent lug or nger 23. Said detent device is normally maintained in engagement with a wall of the bearing 16 through the'action of a clock spring and parts in a train therewith later to be referred to.

The signal or alarm shown essentially comprises a bell body 24C to be engaged by clappers 25, when the clappers are actuated,

to 'give the signal or alarm. Bell 24- is removably screwed at 26 to a spindle 27 which turns with the bell, and which is mounted from the base section 1 by means of a bearing 28. To the spindle 27 is fastened at 29 one end of an actuating clock spring 30, the other end of which is fastened to a stationary lug 31A supported from a gear wheel 32. Said gear wheel 32 is loosely mountedl on the spindle 27 and between the teeth of said gear the detent lug 23 engages. A pinion or gear wheel smaller than the gear wheel 32, which is designated 33,1neshes with the gear wheel 32, and is turnably supported upon a post 34 rising from base section 1. The clappers 25 are fastened to the gear wheel 33 to move therewith.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows.

Should the spring 30 be unwound, the bell 24 is turned in a contra-clockwise direction which winds the spring 30. `When said spring 30 has been properly wound, the detent member is shifted manually so that its detent lug 23 will engage in the notch between adjacent teeth of gear wheel 32, thus maintaining the alarm or signal inactive as the spring 3.0 is held against movement. Should a fire occur, the heat will fire the fuses or ignite the fuses 6, 5 and 4 in order, and the fiame produced will travel through the fuses rapidly and ignite the fulminate at 10 whereupon an explosion will occur, vcausing the projection or discharge of the projectile 8 against the plate 18 of the alarm detent member. As'this detent member is shifted, the detent lug 23 is moved out of engagement with the gear wheel 32 whereupon the spring 30 unwinds, gear wheel 32, rotating gear wheel 33, and the clappers 25 which acting against the bell 24 give or sound a continuous alarm. After the detent member has been shifted, it is prevented from return movement as previously stated by engagement with the cam19. lNhile in this position, it is maintained against movement such as would return the lug23 to engagement with the gear wheel 32.

1t is to be understood that the apparatus illustrated, in the accompanying drawings and described herein, is merely for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention and its operativeness, and that therefore all changesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention vkas defined by thel appended claims are reserved.

I claim:-

1 ln fire signal apparatus, a bell, a clapper for said bell, a gear wheell operating said clapper through movement thereof, a second gear wheelin mesh with said gear wheel, a spindle for said bell. on which said second gear wheel is mounted, a detent device, a bearing for said detent device, said detent device being Anormally in engagement with one of said gear wheels, said bearing being provided with an enlarged opening to permit sliding movement of the detent, a projectile, means to support said projectile, explosive means for said projectile, a fuse extending into said projectile to cooperate with said explosive means, said detent device arranged for shifting through engagement of said projectile therewith upon its discharge, and' a cam carried by saidA bearing on and .past which said device operates upon shifting movement.

2. In fire signal apparatus, a bell, a clapper for said bell, a` gear wheel operating said clapper through movement thereof, a second gear wheelv in mesh with saidl gear wheel, a spindle f or said bell on which said second gear wheely is mounted, a detent device, a bearing for said detent device, said detent device having a portion turnably and slidaloly mounted in said bearing, said bearing also having an enlarged opening to permit sliding movement oi' the detent device, an angie arm extending from said portion terminating in an enlargement, a second angle arm extending from said portion, a finger extending from said second angle arm and at an angle thereto to normally engage said second gear Wheel, a projectile opposite'said enlarged portion of the iirst angle arm, a support for said projectile snugly receiving the projectile and having an open end through Which the projectile is discharged and having a closed end serving as an abutment, and a cam carried 15 by said bearing on and past which said detent device slides upon shifting movement.

In testimony whereof aiiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

` JOHN MGINTOSH SMITH.

Witnesses:

M. E. JONES, Jr., RICHARD B. OWEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

